WAY OF THE WEST, the inside story….
I started this blog as there didn’t seem to be any real information out there on the 80’s band Way Of The West. Their music was influential at the time, and you can still hear it today in clubs and on radio stations that specialise in 80’s new wave but information? Very little.
Just so you know you’ve landed at the right place, this was the band that put out only 5 singles (and a half, check the music page) and they were, first to last, Don’t Say That’s Just For White Boys, See You Shake, Drum, City For Lovers and Feel The Steel between 1981 – 84. They recorded on three different labels Mercury, Innervision & MCA and toured in the US and Europe each year but split up not long after the last record and therefore don’t show up on most music radars.
I’d like anybody who’s interested to think of this as a little drop in centre where you can relax on the comfy sofas we have around the place and find out more, and, of course contribute yourselves to ‘the inside story of Way Of The West’. All background info greatly appreciated.
Here you’ll find various pages where you can find out what happened (The Story), hear the songs and get some inside info on the recordings (The Music), take a look at some record company photos and some of their own (Band Photos & More) and also read some irrelevant but hopefully entertaining background stuff (Name Dropping).
This is very much an ongoing project and I’ll add to it when I have the time and more content, including previously unreleased songs and a ‘Where Are They Now’ page. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for information on Way Of The West you’ve come to the right place, or maybe somewhere interesting enough to keep you diverted till the rain stops……..
Pete Kearney (Carney)
(News…… More music and a video have been added to the Music page, lyrics coming when I get the time)
( AT LAST…..11th May 08, Apparently we’re up and running on itunes!!! So, for anybody who wants to check it out, here it is: One Time,One Life
(News…Aug 08) Definitely one from the ‘Well I Never’ dept. I’ve just been sent something I had no idea existed at all. Our original saxophonist and Percussionist Jason Warre unearthed a video taken at the Peppermint Lounge NY in around 82? Although it’s early on in our career it’s the only film I know of us playing a live gig anywhere. Please ignore the bum notes, the lighting, the poor sound quality, the hair, the ……and take a look here,(WOTW-Live).
Also this month produced more bits and pieces new to me. Our one and only Liz Weller, sent me a goody bag of stuff she had which included some photos taken by the band in NY and other memorabilia.
I’m putting a few on the photos page here, (Band Photos & More) and I’ll add more when i can.
October 23, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Hi Pete,
This is Tim from Stupefaction. Nice to see you here, and happy to see the mystery slowly unraveling. Do you guys have any interest in getting your releases up digitally? Has there been any talk of any reissues? Let me know…I might be able to help.
Tim B.
Stupefaction blog
October 23, 2007 at 8:57 pm
Hi Tim
Thanks for the welcome but….Uh-oh. Being a beginner at this I hadn’t realised it would be ‘out there’ till I pressed something or added some tags! So, my cover is blown and I’d better get on with it. This is still very much a work in progress and anybody interested should bear with me as things may appear and disappear till I’ve got a grip on the process.
As for any digital releases, we’ve recently been contacted by a record company who’ve offered to put out a Way Of The West retrospective and I’m looking at it now, so with luck we may even get some long lost album tracks out too. But If you have any good alternatives though, let me know?
Pete K
October 29, 2007 at 1:19 am
Hey Pete,
First, look here: http://theworldsamess.blogspot.com/2007/10/way-of-west-where-are-you-here.html.
As for the release possibility, drop me a line on my email address which you should be able to see since you publish this blog. I’d be more than happy to help – I probably know who contacted you…
Tim
November 25, 2007 at 3:38 am
Hi Pete. I have been trying to find more info on WOTW for ages, and I finally stumbled upon this site via Google. I was a big fan, having grown up in NYC listening to local college radio stations that played your songs. New Yawk also had some great import record stores, so I was able to pick up a few of your releases, though I missed your gigs. Must have been in a coma when you toured
. I still have the Feel the Steel 7″ and the See You Shake 12″ though they are not in much better shape than your versions. The post-punk years were a great time for music. I would devour everything from the UK (inc. in no particular order, Au Pairs, Delta 5, Higsons, APB, Medium Medium, Dept. 5, Wire, Chameleons, The Sound, Magazine, Psych Furs, and all of the Factory groups) as well as US groups such as Suicide, Polyrock, Gun Club, Bush Tetras. Unfortunate that your album was never released. I could never understand why a compilation was never released given the strength of your singles. Please let me know when the songs are available on iTunes, as I would like to download proper versions (and see that you get some funds). Thanks for the background info on how the songs came into being. You know, I always thought that the woman talking on City for Lovers was actually Japanese. LOL. It’s funny what your mind hears or wants to hear. FYI: The Mudd Club, Danceteria, and Peppermint Lounge in NYC are long gone. Also, were you responsible for the video for Drum being posted on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4l6JVmxmVo
Also what release was The Cool Set on? I didn’t see it listed on the Music page. Also, what was the concept behind the song Don’t Say That’s Just for White Boys? Also, posting lyrics would be cool!
Please let me know if you need any help in promoting your music. Those songs have brought me many hours of enjoyment (I was just playing all of them on my iPod on a trip back home to NYC, which is why I was searching for more info on your band).
Harold Grey
San Jose, CA
November 28, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Hi Harold. Really good to hear from you and thanks for the comments, it’s nice to hear somebody was listening out there.
No, I didn’t know there was a video of Drum on youtube!! I thought I was the only person in the universe with a copy and it was definitely not me. I’ll have to check it out, though it’s actually quite useful as I don’t have a video player these days.
She could actually be Japanese if you prefer? I thought she was Italian because, in the last half of the 12″ of City For Lovers there’s a man speaking very quickly in Italian and I thought it was the same radio station I’d recorded but when I checked back (it was via a radio cassette player with short-band and I still have the cassette) I found that the station had been changed in-between so – let’s make her Japanese!
Or at least stateless…..
This is an embarrassing confession to make but I’d always assumed The Cool Set was the 2nd track on the B-side of the 12″ version of City For Lovers after Countdown. I say assumed because I don’t even have that version of my own record but I have the original acetate and that’s how it comes on there. I’m hoping that’s how the record actually came out but these things were sometimes changed by the record company so I’m open to correction from anyone who actually has the record? Thanks for reminding me anyway, I’ll put it up here on the music page soon as I can. I’ve also discovered some live music from a club in Boston I think, recorded in 84 and I’ll put those here along with a couple of the unreleased album songs I’m transferring. Yes, I guess I should really do a lyric page too. I’ll try to organize that over the next couple of weeks, (wish I had a secretary).
The concept behind ‘White Boys’? At the time (early 80s) there were riots in the UK, mainly black in the poorer parts of London. They were about exclusion, from good jobs, education etc. I guess it was thinking about what exclusion meant (on that level) and on a personal relationship level and trying to write something that could be perceived on both levels. Does that help? It’s the best I can do. A friend studying sociology showed me her textbook with the lyrics from ‘White Boys’ as a discussion subject! Fame at last!
You’re right, the post punk DIY ethic spawned a whole bunch of great bands and it was an exciting time to be playing. Most of those bands you mention I know, though for some reason I assumed The Psychedelic Furs were American? Don’t know why but no matter.
I’m almost done with the itunes thing and when it’s sorted I’ll post all the details here and I can email too if you’d like.
Pete K
France
November 29, 2007 at 11:52 am
hi harold..we do have some archive stuff but its all a matter of transferring from cassettes etc…you never know what may turn up!! cheers..speak soon .neil(bass)
November 29, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Hi Pete. Thanks for the info. I kind of figured that was the idea behind “White Boys” but it is always interesting to hear it straight from the artist. It’s funny, but when I hear the phrase “white boys” it sounds distinctly American, given the history of racial tensions in this country. I used to hear that phrase all the time, where I grew up in Brooklyn. Also, there was that song by Wild Cherry (“Play That Funky Music White Boy”)
So I pulled out my CD of Pere Ubu’s The Modern Dance, and there on song 10, Humor Me, was the line “that’s just the way of the west.” Fascinating the influences that happen in music. Ohio was a real hotbed for a while in the late 70s with the likes of Ubu and DEVO. Many of these groups also seemed to have a Zappa/Beefheart influence in their thoughts and music. I guess what I really liked about WOTW is that there was always a sense of underlying political commentary (social or personal) in the music. I am also a sucker for great funky bass lines in songs, and I love the way your and Reid’s guitars play off each other, filling out the space in the music. Not to mention that Dave’s drumming is superb. I guess alot of people do consider the Furs American since the Butler brothers moved to the States in 82 or so, and they seemed to have bigger success here, but I know they got their start in London. FYI: You can always post a link to the YouTube video on this site. What are you up to now?
Rgds,
Harold
December 1, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Hi Harold
That Wild Cherry song was weird because, weren’t they white? People assumed they were black because of the lyrics.
Yes that’s the song, Humor Me. Pere Ubu were a band favourite. Liz was a big Devo fan and Neil, her replacement liked Beefheart and that mystery San Francisco band The Residents. We played a gig there and Neil visited the address printed on one of their records. No answer………just the way it should be.
Talking about Dave’s drumming reminded me that a US fanzine voted Neil & Dave as the rhythm section to see on tour, and in soundchecks I’d go out front with a long guitar lead just to hear them. Not so easy for Dave…….
I have a small update to the video mystery. I checked it out and called the company (Rock America) that originally made it. Though they didn’t post it, the original director (Ed Steinberg) is one of the partners there along with another guy who was a DJ on WLIR and a big fan of WOTW. Incidentally he also asked about the identity of that girl on City For Lovers so you’ve started something there. The outcome is they’re going to send me a DVD of the video which is cool as I don’t have a player. I’ll try doing the link thing but I’m not a natural at this so it may not work first time.
What am I up to now? Well….I’m still ‘obliquely’ connected to music though I haven’t played live for around 10 yrs. I’ll save the story for when I get round to doing the ‘Where Are They Now’ page but one of the things I’m involved with is a little ‘international’ electro pop project with a German keyboard player and a London girl singer. Hardly any gtr and we don’t play live! Here’s the link if you want to check out the very low key site http://www.i-love-pop.com/ though I leave the website stuff up to others and don’t usually mention my earlier days! We also made a very expensive ($10) video for one song here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwzaDnDRkcI in which I feature for a nano-second, and I mean nano-second.
Talking about Devo reminded me of a favourite saying I found scratched in the wax around the centre of Boojie Boy by the (i assume?) cutting engineer.
“Money Talks, Men Mumble”………So true
Pete K
France
December 2, 2007 at 3:36 am
Hi Pete. That would have been funny in SF if they answered when Neil rang and they were wearing the giant eyeballs
So to include the Drum video in your blog, there is some code on the YouTube page for the Drum video along the right side called “Embed.” I believe if you copy and paste that entire piece of html code into the code for your page, such as http://mercury66.wordpress.com/music/, it will automatically do what you need it to. Let me know if you get stuck. I like the sound of “I Love Pop.” Great stuff…
Rgds,
Harold
December 2, 2007 at 11:15 pm
Thanks for the advice.
I believe the giant eyeballs were eventually stolen? They’ll probably turn up in an art gallery somewhere, though I can’t imagine the band turning up to claim them…….
Glad you like ILP. I’ll attempt to put some never released WOTW album and live recordings on the blog in the next few days so feel free to check them out.
best wishes
Pete K
December 10, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Props Harold for posting this link on our Psychedelic Furs site and getting me here!
I owe you one buddy!
Great job and great information Pete!
Keep it coming!
Regards,
DiP
(Moderator, http://www.BurnedDownDays.com)
December 10, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Pete,
Just re-read this thread:
“…though for some reason I assumed The Psychedelic Furs were American? Don’t know why but no matter.”
Perhaps you were just partially psychic since RB, Tim and John are all American now!
D.
December 10, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Really?…..Well. Now I just need to buy a lottery ticket.
It could have been the sound.Compared to the other UK bands around at the time I think they ’sounded American’? Maybe if WOTW had stayed in the US we’d be rhyming leisure with seizure by now??
Pete K
December 12, 2007 at 4:22 am
OMG I LOVE YOU GUYS!! I consider myself a latter-era fan of Way Of The West, not having discovered you guys until the Internet introduced me to your music, but now I am a full on, fully fledged fan. One of my absolute favorite songs is “My Own Front Door” and I also happen to love “Don’t Say That’s Just For White Boys”, and obviously “City For Lovers”, which started it all for me, kicks so much ass. I love that you’re taking the initiative and doing this to reignite interest in WOTW, thus joining the ranks of fellow awesomely cool New Wave groups such as the Scars and B-Movie, which also have official presences online. OMG, and I just forgot that “See You Shake” was another great, notable song of yours!! Oh man, now I’m off to play “My Own Front Door” because I am totally craving a few dozen listens of it.
p.s.: I’ll be 28 later on this month, so I’m interested in finding out if there are any other twentysomething fans you’re aware of.
December 12, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Hi Deanna
Your comments are very sweet and most appreciated. On behalf of the rest of the WOTW crew we all bow before your kind words!
I’m very impressed that you’re a fan of “My Own front Door” too. It was always one of our favourites but sometimes seen as ‘difficult’…..especially by the record company.
Your other point about taking the initiative? I’d like to think it was as thought through as that but really, I only started this because there was so little out there and I finally gave in to the people who kept asking me to get something together. I don’t know where it will finish up but it’s an interesting ride…
I’m constantly surprised that people know our songs at all, and without the internet there’d certainly be no new fans like you so, 28?
Yes, that’s young as you couldn’t have seen us first time round but I’ve been contacted by young fans who say they discovered us on vinyl or radio and they love the stuff.
Happy to be included with the ‘awesomely cool’!
Pete
January 14, 2008 at 4:05 am
Hi Pete,
Just dropping by to see if there’s anything new going on here. Drop me a line when you have a minute. Have you made any progress with Keith & the digital thing?
Tim B, NYC
p.s. Happy new year!
January 15, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Hi Tim
I’m just out the other side of the festivities and had a few things to finish but I’m back and hoping to get a lyric page happening in a few days.
As for the downloads, the holdup was a technical issue with the files. That and Keith just back from holidays too….. It should be sorted this week and then (fingers crossed) they’ll be up on itunes within a month. 20 yrs late so a small delay shouldn’t hurt. I’ll keep everyone posted with all the details soon as I get them.
and a Happy new year to you too.
Pete
January 30, 2008 at 6:27 am
OMG iTunes — why did you not tell me about this development in email??? I would LOVE to purchase WOTW tracks on iTunes so I can contribute some to the “let’s help WOTW actually make some cash money in these here 2000s” fund! Congrats on the iTuneage!
p.s.: WOTW are still “awesomely cool”. In fact, because of you, Mr. Ex-Carney, you have all gotten way cooler in my book and could already be the coolest obscure[-ish] NW musical artist of all time.
February 5, 2008 at 2:18 pm
We’re having a few techie problems with the song files but we’re almost there. It should be this month, fingers crossed.
Just back from London and a friend showed me something he’d discovered on ebay. The WOTW collection! 17 songs on a CD with little prints of the single covers inside and a ‘marketed by Phonogram’ sticker to give it some official look. They probably do loads of bands. Anyway, I was a little nervous when I listened to it. What if it sounded better than my own versions? I Needn’t have worried as at least 50% were distorted. Not sure how they were put together but just shows what’s going on.
My day is made. Not just awsomely cool but obscure(ish). How will I sleep?
Pete
February 21, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Pete,
Any updates???
Thanks 1M!
D.
February 23, 2008 at 10:58 pm
I’m told 6-8 weeks till the songs are on itunes. We had some strange happenings
where the files were fine when uploaded but when they reappeared they were running
at a completely different speed. Everything’s ok now but delayed of course. Looks like it won’t be before March/April now.
Pete
February 27, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Thanks Pete.
I’ll be sure to post the details on our Furs site!
The word must be spread!
D.
March 26, 2008 at 8:39 am
“My day is made. Not just awsomely cool but obscure(ish). How will I sleep?”
Ha ha ha. Your wit is practically arid.
And sure, “obscure(ish)”, but only because I don’t hail from the American NE. Apparently WOTW were an especially huge success in the NY Tri-State area and got measurable airplay for at least two of your/their songs on commercial radio. So good for you, you “made it there”, as the old Frank Sinatra song went. Unfortunately that didn’t lead to you “making it everywhere” (as he might’ve sung) as I don’t believe such success traveled all the way down here in the U.S. Southwest. Which, come to think of it, is as arid as your sense of humor.
Glad to hear the bootleg was of an inferior sound quality (after all, *you* should be entitled to the crispest sounds possible wrt the WOTW back catalogue) and hopefully the iTunes thing will happen sooner rather than later. Also — where are you? Are you busy with the iTuneage? With other things? You know, Gmail is an awfully easy web-based email provider to deal with, hint hint…..
March 28, 2008 at 11:41 am
No, not busy with ‘ituneage’. Everything has been checked and sent off so I’m awaiting a date for it to go live, nothing has worked first time yet so let’s see how it goes. I’m about to return to London again for a week, and possibly out of the loop for that time too.
As for making it v not making it? I don’t know how you measure these things but for World Domination U2 style old Frank could have sung ‘They Made It No-Where’! But as we all know, making it’ like that is no guide to quality and I like to think we have a more intelligent and of course ‘cooler’ fan base. Then again I could just be delusional…..
May 11, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Glad to be able to say this. For those who just check the comments…
Way Of The West are Go…….live on itunes at last!!
May 23, 2008 at 4:05 am
You know, the only thing better than (finally) finding a Way of the West site is finding a Way of the West site that’s maintained by the actual band members!
I went straight to iTunes to purchase the digital album, but got an error message saying “Purchase of the item is not currently available. The item is being modified. Please try again later.” I can play the 30 second samples of the tracks though. Hopefully it will get straightened out soon, because I’m really looking forward to having a copy!
I wish I could say that I was with you guys from the beginning, but I’m a latecomer as well. I was in the right time, but the wrong place (as in no place with a WLIR, KROQ, or CFNY). I first heard “Don’t Say That’s Just for White Boys” on a compliation CDR a buddy of mine put together for me back in 1999. I found the 12″ single for “Drum” at a second hand record store a few weeks later, and then that was it for awhile until I started digging for rare New Wave material again in 2006 and came across most of your other tracks through various online file sharing outlets. I’ve been hooked ever since. My favorite tracks are “Feel the Steel” and “Countdown”, but I love ‘em all. As Deanna mentioned, I’m glad that I will soon be able to buy your music through an official venue so that I can finally put a little money in your pockets where it’s rightfully belonged all of these years.
Anyway, nice to see you guys online. I look forward to finally being able to learn a little bit about the band that I’ve gotten so much enjoyment out of listening to these past couple of years!
Tom
P.S. You’re not delusional…we ARE a more intelligent and cooler fan base! LOL!
May 23, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Hi Tom
Thanks very much for the appreciation, and the confirmation that I may not be delusional after all. Those analysts can get pretty expensive.
I think the ‘item being modified’ message you got from itunes is hopefully for a good reason. I queried whether the album price wasn’t a little high, especially in dollars! Keith from Sentanta records, the people who organised everything for us said he’d check it out with itunes and I think (hope…) they’ve taken it off while they adjust the price. It should be back up pretty soon.
All latecomers gratefully accepted here at WOTW central, better late than never and I reckon a testament to the songs still standing up after all this time.
Thanks again for the appreciation,
Pete
June 3, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Hi Pete,
I just wanted to let you (and anyone else reading along) know that I was able to purchase and download all of the tracks individually from iTunes with the exception of the live track which is “album only”. iTunes applies the individual tracks purchased towards the cost of purchasing the full album, so there’s no real danger of having to pay twice for the same material. As soon as the full album is available for download again, I’ll be able to pick up the live track and complete the album for a couple of dollars.
I really enjoyed the unreleased tracks and will post some thoughts on them soon under the music page!
Tom
June 3, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Hi Pete,
Keith finally told me about the tracks being available on iTunes. Congratulations. How come no announcement on the blog?
Glad I could help put this whole thing together.
Tim
June 9, 2008 at 11:05 pm
I can’t believe you finally have a website! I grew up listening to your tracks on WLIR in New York. I just downloaded the stuff on iTunes. Thanks for telling us the backstory and all the great music. Where is the myspace page?
lol,
Patrick.
June 10, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Thanks for the comments, I’ve been visiting friends with no net or mobile phone connection. No withdrawal symptoms either and an interesting experience to be cut off without a daily supply of bad news.
Tom – Glad things seem to be working with the downloads, though I’m not sure why the album still doesn’t seem to be happening. I’ll get Steve Jobs onto it.
Tim B – Thanks for the original support and ideas. I thought I had announced it on the blog?
A blurb with the release date was added to the end of the page above (though I guess it could have been bigger) and another announcement on the music page.
I’ll make a separate page just for the release with the proper links.
Patrick – Many fans said they first heard us on WLIR. We listened to it in the truck when we played the NY area. As for the myspace page? I suppose I hoped this blog would be enough. I’ll take a look and if it’s easy (and doesn’t take all day) I might try it.
Just a minute….Why don’t you do it? After all, you have all the songs now, (and you’d have to handle all the myspace ‘friend’ stuff)!
Pete
June 30, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Hello Pete, like others I have been looking for the Way Of The West for such a long time. I first heard Don’t Say It’s Just For White Boys and See You Shake on The Post Punk Progressive Pop Party, WVHC then the Voice of Radio Hofstra now WRHU. White Boys was the back drop for the P5s general advertisement airing from 10 pm to about 2am. Yes, WLIR / WDRE supported you to the end.
TWOTW is on the P5 site or http://www.thep5.blogspot.com. The link up is to deathwearswhitesocks.com, so maybe other P5 fans will find you to Mercury66 if its updated.
Funny I bought 4 WOTW records late last year and searched as hard as I could to find you. Now 1 year latter I have WOTW on a POD. Sorry, I bought your records a 1/4 century too late. I was an early I Tunes buyer and I must say it was worth every penny.
Does the popularity on I Tunes really reflect which WOTW song is the most popular?
Will you every get together again? Please tour with the Gang of Four. I never saw you live so who knows? Maybe I will see you live a 1/4 century later too.
Good luck and your site is fantastic!
Rob
July 1, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Hi there Rob, and happy you managed to find us in the end. The people at WLIR and the others you mentioned were very influential on whatever success we had in the US. Without an American record label we had no other way of reaching anybody there so it was great that they kept on playing the records. I only heard about the P5 site a little while back and thanks to those guys too.
Yes you’re right, it is weird having WOTW available on itunes. I still don’t quite believe it myself. If, by itunes popularity you mean those dark bars next to the supposedly most popular songs? I don’t know yet whether that means anything or it’s just for show.
Talking about buying records, it may surprise people but I don’t have every record in 7″ & 12″. My girlfriend decided to fill some gaps when she spotted someone selling them on ebay and ordered them as a Christmas present. Of course they never turned up so I’m still looking…..
Touring again? I can’t even locate our drummer Dave, last seen in Australia. Dave! Are you out there Dave??
Glad you liked the site.
Pete
July 21, 2008 at 7:44 am
Greetings from Canada, Pete:
This is unreal. Getting out of bed at nearly 3 AM to look up some Midnight Oil lyrics and ending up on iTunes by chance… only to find that you ARE out there! I have no words to describe this monumental occasion. Maybe I’m asleep.
I’ve hopelessly typed “Way of the West” into a search engine or iTunes more times than I can count. Nada, at best, a small thread on a forum somewhere with zero info.
I have waited well OVER 20 YEARS to find out I was right about these lyrics: “First Time Club” and to finally learn what these lyrics were: “It’s a dream heart, slow start…” (I’m a musician that happens to be terrible at sussing lyrics!)
I even had way-of-the-west.com registered for a year hoping you or somebody from the band would contact me and ask why! I had plans to eventually upload pics of all the album artwork and tell the world what little I knew, to pay tribute.
The City for Lovers 12″ is one of my top 5 favorite records of all time. I heard it on CFNY, an alternative station during the 80’s in Toronto, Ontario Canada. Most of my record collection was amassed after hearing the music on CFNY. I had to phone the station and find out what the song was called as I missed the info and the person I spoke with told me I had probably heard ‘Drum’. This led to a hunt to find the vinyl. I found ‘Feel the Steel’ first. It was hard to find ‘City for Lovers’ and I couldn’t believe it when I finally did.
Over time, I have found and bought multiple copies of the City for Lovers 12″ including different pressings with different track listings. I have all the other 12’s and all the 7’s as well. If there is vinyl you still need, please contact me.
I’m happy to see you’ve uploaded the music to iTunes, but being old school, I’m not big into the MP3 format. (I own some Macs but no iPods.) Is there ANY chance a CD compilation of all the WOTW material might happen? Do you know if the original master tapes still exist? I would do anything I could to help make this happen – I’m a designer and would be pleased to create the sleeve artwork. I have other contacts which may be useful as well.
Feel free to contact me directly, xeno@xenoweb.com
Thank you so much for putting up the site and lyrics. I’ll be coming back to read every word.
July 21, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Pete,
Just went to the Death Wears White Socks site and saw a post I made years ago under user name Atlantis75. I forgot all about that, but it echoes the same bottom line: I’d give my left nut for a WOTW compilation CD!
July 22, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Hi John – I’m wishing you’d got that tribute site up and running, then I could be putting my feet up……never spotted it.
Thanks for all the appreciation, It’s gratifying to know that our songs had an impact out there in Canada, an adventurous DJ too to play the 12″, doesn’t happen much these days with playlists etc. Looks like you’ve collected more versions of City For Lovers than I knew existed and definitely more than I own right now. Maybe I’ll contact you for a scan of those versions?
Now, a CD? Personally I’d prefer to have a physical CD too but that would mean starting negotiations again with Universal who own the rights to our recordings. I’ve mentioned this somewhere else on the site already but a while back I approached Universal who took over Phonogram and MCA and asked if they’d give us the rights to our songs back as they’d done nothing with them for over 20 yrs. They wouldn’t do it. Also, a few years back, before the takeover, I tried to locate the master tapes for Don’t Say That’s Just For White Boys in the MCA tape vaults. After a couple of days they admitted they couldn’t find them. So – even if I manage to sort something out with the bloodsuckers (sorry, record company) there’s a good chance they’ve miss-laid (re-used) the original recordings. WOTW have some copy masters of many of the songs and original 7″ & 12″ acetates of others. We used those to make the downloads for itunes but it would be great if we could locate the missing masters for a CD.
Even so…….I should take a deep breath and do it, as it needs doing. I’ll know what’s happening before the end of August so with luck I may be able to announce an official Way Of The West CD here – watch this space. Anyway, I need to find out once and for all if the tapes are still there.
Maybe we could go the Prince route and call ourselves ‘The Artists formally known as Way Of The West…and maybe prepare for life without your left nut?
Thanks for the design offer. I’ve been touched by the various offers of help by fans on this site. If everything works out I’ll contact you.
By the way, I never realised those lyrics were unclear? I’ve had people say they don’t make any sense but now I can tell them they’re not listening properly.
Pete
July 24, 2008 at 8:43 pm
So pleased to have found this site and itunes album! I searched for information and around record shops for years and years. Saw the band in a club in Southgate, North London and also at the Rock Garden, Covent Garden. Best band I ever came across …. the music had a huge influence on me. Thank you for great memories … and now continued enjoyment to listen to Way of the West music again!
July 25, 2008 at 9:05 am
We played the Rock Garden many times early on in our career, the AnR who eventually signed us to Phonogram saw us there first but……I have no re-collection of the Southgate gig?
Of course this doesn’t mean we didn’t do it, those were hectic times but what if the best band you ever came across wasn’t actually us! I don’t want to give up that title without a fight so from now on that was us you saw – officially.
Thanks Nick, If I manage to re-connect a few memory cells I’ll let you know.
Pete
July 26, 2008 at 8:35 pm
lovely to see so much interest in WOTW stuff…these were great times and t’was a great band to be in!..HOLLAND/CANADA/USA et al..NEIL(BASS)…
July 28, 2008 at 8:15 pm
What rabid fans! Willing to give up a left nut. Pete, I like you, but I don’t think I’d go that far
I tracked Dave Bonnefoy down in Australia when I was originally searching for WOTW info several years back. He is associated with some artists agency in Australia: http://www.stickylabel.com.au/artists.html
Harold
San Jose, CA
July 29, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Hi Pete,
I don’t think your lyrics were unclear, it’s just for whatever reason, my brain somehow doesn’t hear what’s obvious in sung lyrics, I guess!
I would be happy to re-register a WOTW-related web site domain again that you can use in the future, if you like. I’m swamped with my work but I would like to eventually put up discography pictures and whatever else you’d like to include.
I will certainly take photos of the WOTW vinyl I have to show you. Please email me at xeno@xenoweb.com with your email address to send the photos to. I promise not to “bug” you.
Did you know that the single version of “Don’t Say That’s Just For White Boys” is on a compilation CD? It appears to be a promo-only CD called “B.L.A.S.T. – Modern Rock Program #4. I found this CD once when scouring GEMM.com for WOTW music on CD – the only thing I’ve ever found. The recording was taken from vinyl by the sounds of it. I can send you pictures…
I truly hope the master tapes still exist and wish you luck – We’ll all be watching to see what transpires at the end of August. Worst case scenario would be to use the acetates or vinyl and clean up any “snap crackle pop” digitally.
If Universal still owns the rights to the recordings, who owns the publishing? If a CD is released, will mechanical royalties need to be paid to Universal? At least, in today’s world, it would be easy to create a CD comp of the WOTW catalog with top notch audio quality, and not have to press more copies than you need. Again, I can help with sleeve design and probably the printing thereof.
Sigh, I have 20 grand worth of recording gear sitting in storage – I wish it was set up, I’d love to offer/be offered a chance at doing some WOTW remixes! We should talk about this, it could still easily be done if the masters exist.
By the way Neil (BASS), one of my favourite moments in WOTW recording is when the thick lush chorus kicks in on the bass line on the 12″ version of City For Lovers. It’s Magic!
Pete, Neil, a shot in the dark – do either of you know of a U.K. band named “One O’clock Gang”? They appear to have had one album and a few singles, one called “Close Your Eyes (Think of England)” which also got played over here in the 80’s. My right nut is reserved for a comp CD of their recordings. ;0) But first things first!
I see a figure running down the street…!
John G
Ontario, Canada
July 29, 2008 at 3:13 pm
While I’m at it…
Pete, The 12″ of City For Lovers features a Roland TR-808 drum machine that kicks the mix off and stays in the background. (Can’t recall if the single has it, I’ve only listened to the single a couple times – I’ve worn out the 12″).
I’m curious, whose idea was it to use the 808 and was the choice based on availability (the studio or a band member owned it) or was it because it was nearly a new product at the time and there was excitement around using it?
On Feel The Steel, it sounds like there was some major interaction with a set of Simmons SDX electronic drums! This song seems to be the only WOTW recording with fully electronic drums – why the switch? Simply for something different, or an effort to capitalize on the expanding synthesizer use at the time? (Please be kind, I’m a synth lover!)
Best,
John G
Ontario, Canada
July 30, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Harold – Thanks for the ’stickylabel’ link to Dave but i tried that studio site a year ago and no luck. I wondered if they don’t exist anymore but I’ll give it another try. Thanks anyway.
August 12, 2009 at 5:40 am
hi pete. drummer dave here checking into wotw central. just downloaded the album from itunes. sounds great well done . i’m sure you would have sent me a copy had i asked but i just could’nt wait as i have’nt heard some of those later tracks since the time of thier recording. thought they stood the test of time quite well. hope you’re doing fine i;m ok …stiill liveing in sydney oz . niel contacted me a couple of years ago but i mislaid his email address… would’nt mind getting in touch with all the chaps from the band’ maybe you could forward some adresses to me.
i still keep my hand in on the drumming front, i have a small recording set up in my house where friends pop in from time to time .mainly to drink beer and talk about 80s bands they where in. we do play music at some of these sessions as well. we are called … the livingstones[i presume]. aparently, we’re being played on radio basingstoke…thought about calling the album…big in basingstoke…what ya think ? cheers, dave.
July 30, 2008 at 3:33 pm
John – so many questions….so little time……
I’ll work back from the last to the first if that’s ok, but first, I may have to disappoint two long held beliefs of yours.
1) I could be wrong but I don’t think that was an 808 on the intro to City For Lovers? We had a very early Korg drum machine (can’t remember which) which we used with a Tascam Portastudio to try out ideas quickly and I think that was what we used. At the time the state of the art drum machine was a Linn Drum but only studios had those. Still, till we get confirmation one way or the other from Dave we’re probably in ‘Schrodinger’s Cat’ territory here, it both is, and is not an 808. How about that for now?
2) I don’t think that’s a chorus effect (or just a chorus effect) that comes in on Neil’s bass on the 12″.
We experimented with kicking the bass out of phase as an effect and that’s what you’re hearing. I love that part too and it’s very powerful on headphones. If Neil doesn’t remember we’ll have to try and find out from Jeremy Green the producer. For those with any interest in this stuff, it was recorded with an Ampeg SV Bass Amp and DI’d too……
That’s it for the balloon bursting….. Yes that’s a Simmons SDX but we only used the module not the kit and ran it from a Simmons Sequencer, a silver box with rows of flashing lights like something from Star Trek. I think Dave only played percussion on this song along with background vox. We were experimenting with all this stuff as it was pretty new at the time though when we played it live that was just Dave and no, we weren’t trying to capitalise on the expanding synthesizer use. WOTW were most definitely not a synth band, our concept was to push against the limits of our instruments. We weren’t anti synth at all and did try using one once, think it was a Wave PPG? but because of it’s unlimited nature it reduced the energy and edge so that was it. Is this making any sense?
Thanks for the offer but don’t worry about any site registering. It never occurred to me that Way Of The West.com would be free because of the western movie. I’ll investigate what’s available but if you want to send me any scans or memorabilia for the site I’ll email you with an address.
Also thanks for the offer of the use of recording equipment but after my time in music I’m up to my ears in the stuff as it is. I now have a small writing studio here but no reel to reel, which I’ll need if they ever find our tapes….
As for a CD, as Universal own the rights to the recordings I would have to pay them mechanical royalties if I wanted to put out an official CD. As usual these weren’t very favourable to the band so I have to hope the label will take a smaller cut and don’t insist on the original contract. It would only be a small run which may make it not worth doing. I’ll put up the outcome here when I know.
The publishing was owned by another large publisher but they’ve reverted to me now because of the time interval.
We used tape copy masters and acetates of the music for the itunes downloads and for a couple of the acetates we did indeed have to iron out a few crackles. Even though we couldn’t remove every little pop, they still sounded fresh. It was worth it. Still, I’d love to find those masters – if they exist.
Afraid I’ve never heard of the One O’clock Gang. Why not try ebay – if they’re worth ripping off, somebody will have done it by now as they it did to us, and you won’t have to sing soprano?
cheers
Pete
July 30, 2008 at 8:54 pm
neil doesn’t remember!!!..i’ll listen to it and try to work it out.(seem to remember thet it was something to do with the mixing desk ,though it could have been my incredible ability to overdub slightly out of time and tune..ahem!)…
July 30, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Pete,
I dug out one of my City For Lovers 12″s and put it on as I haven’t listened to any vinyl in ages. Indeed, I may be speaking out my arse as now I agree that it very well may not be an 808. This is doubly embarrassing as I own an 808! Still, I’ve owned more than one over time and they can sound quite different depending on how the internal circuits are tweaked. Anyway, whatever drum box it is, it sounds very sweet indeed. I’m still curious to know either way though!
I’ve got a LinnDrum as well but would like to find the original Linn LM-1 as the sounds of these when detuned are like nothing else.
As for the bass, I realize there’s more than one way to create a “chorus” effect. Cool idea to put it out of phase at the desk – you can save money on effects pedals that way!
Thanks for all the other info on the SDX and publishing. I do hope you are able to work something out with the record company. Good luck with it.
One O’clock Gang – I think I’ve found all the vinyl they put out, I just prefer the “clean” sound of CDs much more.
Jack Richardson stored many of the Guess Who master tapes at the college where I studied. He said there was sometimes the issue of the oxide coming right off the old tapes when trying to play them. So, may the oxide be FIRMLY stuck to the tape for all the missing WOTW masters!
Best,
John